Across Europe in the last weeks of November, the elves are outside busy building the Christmas markets that stand in the city squares and central market places. Filled with cheer, they are decorated like miniature villages where throngs of people congregate to search for that special Christmas present among the outdoor shops containing traditional crafts from black-smithery to glass-blowing to fine silversmiths for handwrought jewelry.

On December 5th, children dress up as angels and devils to accompany Saint Nicholas as he goes from house to house bringing the season's cheer and drinking schnapps. Firecrackers explode in the noisy streets as fireworks burst above in the night sky, welcoming the Christams Season. In Vienna, the ice-rink by the Stadtpark is filled with whirling skaters, and the duck pond with the Moore sculpture in front of the Karlskirche is glazed with ice for children to skate on. On the ring by the Rathaus, a miniature village is created among the towering trees with an outdoor rink where annually Freilicht Exhibitions of ice-skating and ice-dancing are performed by the new brood of competitive skaters.

In Prague, the Christmas Market assembles in the Old Town Square with a miniature ice-rink and pony rides to entertain the children. A miniature train whooshes in circles and the tourists congregate to watch the parade of saints on the great Astronomical Clock near the Tyn Church where Catholics and Protestants battled to dominate the religious front. Tourists throng the crowded narrow streets, arriving to enjoy the busy shopping season. It's Christmas. The Ice Castle surrounding the ice-rink is slowly melting, although scarcely a week old.

The story of the Snow Queen is a traditional favorite for the winter season, with the Snow Festivals that are celebrated across Europe. The largest Ice Castle is in Kemi, Finland-in Lapland where Gerda is abducted by the Robber Girl, and finally continues on the last leg of her journey with the reindeer to the icy, frozen north.

This is my Snow Queene,Neiva.

She is part of a new series of dolls that combine both of my favorite mediums for creating my fairies--softsculpture and polymer clay.

Her head, torso, arms from the elbow down and feet are entirely handsculpted (no molds used, ever) so there will never be another quite like her again.

Her face is hand drawn and painted. It was then attached to the head and torso, which were sculpted from italian air dry clay.

Snow Queene is approx. 18" tall, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.

Her body is a strong wire armature wrapped in cotton batting covered in fabric,which allows her to be very gently posed.

Her lovely face is handpainted with a blush of artist pigments, colors that I mix myself. Her gown is created of assorted vintage and antique laces, fabrics and ribbon that I've collected over the years and continually search out for my dolls.

Snow Queene's wonderful white hair is created from hand dyed mohair, sprinkled liberally with fairy dust (silver glitter).

She wears a hat of a fabric blossom. (this is not removeable). Fabric blooms also decorate her clothing, and she holds bouquet of winter flowers in her hand (the buds have beaded centers, and more beaded flowers accent the bouquet.)

Neiva will come beautifully giftwrapped, and have a certificate signed by the artist.